The Hobbit | Stansborough

The Hobbit is a film series consisting of three high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson. They are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King, which expand on the story told in The Hobbit, as well as new material and characters written especially for the films. Together they act as a prequel to Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).

Weaving More Movie Magic

Wellington based textiles company Stansborough have landed the big one again, securing a lucrative contract with Warner Brothers, to design and weave textiles for the Hobbit movies.

Company Director, Cheryl Eldridge, is glowing about the Mystical Silver Scarf they have produced for Gandalf, in The Hobbit. Sir Ian McKellen (who plays Gandalf) has also expressed his excitement for the scarf which he says takes on a life of its own in the films. Seemingly made from the finest slithers of Mithril from the mines of Moria the scarf, which shines like moonlit silver, promises to be one of the most sought after items of Hobbit memorabilia. “I’m so excited to be part of this film, it’s fantastic that small New Zealand companies like us can compete in the global market providing world class products.”
Based in Petone, Stansborough Limited, has been operating since 1995. Their mainstay is the New Zealand production and export of designer fabrics and interiors. Their products are created sustainably on 120 year old looms, from the ‘Stansborough Grey’ rare wool grown on their Wairarapa farm (all 100% natural and chemical free).

The company first hit the big time by securing the contract to produce the Fellowship Cloaks and other fabric for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, after being noticed in New York. They have since produced costume textiles for Disney’s Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Waterhorse, Kidnapped, Spartacus, Wolverine, Krampus, Slow West, Pete’s Dragon and are currently working on the remake of Goodbye Pork Pie. Stansborough’s products have been sold in New York, London and Sydney, to SAKS Fifth Avenue and Liberty’s, as well as used by international interior designers and architects.